Ceiling register with pull chain?

I have a forced air system. At night I would like to be able to stop
or reduce the heat pouring in to certain rooms. Our current ceiling
registers can only be dampened with a screwdriver (what a dumb idea!)
and that sort of precludes daily adjustment.
Years ago, I lived in a home where all the ceiling registers had pull
chains. I've looked & looked & not found anything. Do any of you
gurus have a source?
Thank you,
ME

The registers are not supposed to be adjusted after the initial air
balancing. the system is designed to maintain a constant, even temperature
throughout the house. Closing off rooms is like trying to partition off part
of your refrigerator or oven that you not using. It will actually cost you
more in utility bills and comfort, not to mention that it can be detrimental
to the system itself. "pull chain" registers went out in the 1970s as techs
and contractors learned more about building science.

I see. Well, I think I have a bit of a special case, and would like
to find a source nevertheless. My home is over a hundred years old &
I have several rooms that get too hot or too cold, depending on where
the sun is. The folks that installed the HVAC system five years ago
tried their best, I'm sure, but we've never found a way to keep all
the rooms comfortable. Being able to adjust on the fly, while perhaps
not the best solution, is the the only one I can come up with.

temperature
part
you
detrimental
techs
Yeah he is so full of himself <or full of bullshit take your pick same diff>
Sorry--dunno about your pull chain registers but zoned hvac system using
multiple thermostats and automatic opening dampers is still alive and in
fact is one of the few arena here that is still thriving, but he likes to
scare people and mis-inform them by saying shit like "its against the law
for me to install a used fossil appliance" and he thinks its okay to imply
that it will cost more to heat only a camp trailer that's parked in a barn
than it would cost for someone to heat the entire old drafty barn to the
same temp.
Nut job IOW

Dumb idea? Are you high?
WTF is so hard about turning a screwdriver?
Are you related to stormy?

What bullshit. I close off my kid's rooms when they go off to college.
I actually am so cheap, that I put cellophane under the registers.
When you go in these rooms on a cold day, you can see your breath.
I've never had any issues with condensation, etc.
The day before they arrive, out comes the cellophane and they're good to go.

Steve in my guitar room I place a thermometer/hygrometer in it to see
how the climate was. Martin and Gibson recommend the humidity be kept
between 44% and 54% Rh and temps between 72 and 78F. Needless to say
the humidity was low so I bought a small room humidifier that
automatically turns on and off at set point. That took care of my
humidity problem. I keep the room closed off and the temp would get
too high so I closed off the register and after some experiments I
have everything is good. With 8 grand or more worth of instruments I
want the climate right. They sure do sound better to.
Closing off one register off a six inch run isn't going to affect temp
rise all. I bet you couldn't detect any difference with a
thermometer.
So I agree with HVAC. Closing off one register isn't going to
adversely affect anything.

So what. He just wants to close some down a little here and there.
No different than closing down balancing dampers. Not all homes have
balancing dampers any way. Newer ones probably do but not older ones.
In reality if someone actually did a manual D you wouldn't need
dampers. But they don't and usually every run in the joint is 6
inches.
If he wants to close off a few rooms I doubt that's going to make a
huge difference on anything. But we don't really know because we cant
see it.

Damned.. I certainly hope you are not in charge of Heatloads, Duct
design or Gawd forbid, Airbalancing. I cannot blame this lunacy on
Unionism. You are obviously a self made fool. I guess those warehouse
personal are not as fussy as Homeowners and office person.. including
Computer complexes.

Thank you all for your help.
While I would still like a temporary solution (e.g., pull-chain
register), I have found, thanks to these posts, some remote-controlled
dampers.
(HVAC - Regarding your "are you high" comment: My ceilings are 9' high
& I am disabled, so I cannot stand on a ladder safely. Note also that
adjusting would have to be done at least twice a day in some rooms.)

Don I've been trained in all of that so I understand the principles
enough to know there is a relative range of operation that is
tolerable to both man and machine. Our job is to create a
environmental harmony between man and machine. That's what we strive
to do isn't it?
Do you honestly think a few 150 cfm either way that is spread out
through an entire system is going to make a huge difference in
equipment operation or comfort?
An on site analysis would naturally be in order before recommending
anything specific but, I mean really, what are we talking here a few
hundredths of extra static? Do you really think that is going to
create a disharmony? Or are you just over blowing the entire subject.

Then I call that a resounding success. maybe even a break through.
Congratulations I'm impressed. It's like the Mac is back or
something...

Self Made, yes. But of these days you will find out that we're all
fools.

Not when there are vacant.
You better be nice to me Don. I may need a job someday. If that
happens I plan to move to S.D. I have a tool bag and if your not
careful Ill make you hire me. :)

Oh I didn't realize that. Sorry.
If he was handy he could fab something up with a spring and pull chain
a damper and hinge. But I guess since he cant use a screw driver
that's out of the question. :)
Maybe he should hire some tin knocker to do it for him.

Log in

HomeOwnersHub.com is a website for homeowners and building and maintenance pros. It is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.